Ehret's Extra Near Beer 12 Oz Zip Top Can

Ehret's Extra Near Beer Zip Top

The Ehret's Extra Near Beer 12 oz zip top can represents a noteworthy piece of brewing history produced by Metropolis Brewery of N.J., located in Trenton, New Jersey. The George Ehret brand name carried substantial legacy from its historic origins at the Hell Gate Brewery in New York, which had once ranked among the largest brewing operations in the United States. Following corporate shifts and brewery closures, the rights to the historic Ehret name were acquired and utilized by Metropolis Brewery in Trenton.

Metropolis Brewery of N.J. maintained a diverse portfolio of legacy labels, contract brands, and specialty malt beverages. Labeling this product as 'Near Beer'—a classification for non-alcoholic malt beverages containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume—allowed the brewery to market under the trusted Ehret name while carrying specific non-taxable beverage disclosures.

For breweriana collectors, this can stands out as a convergence of 19th-century brand heritage and modern beverage canning. The face of the can features traditional Ehret typography, classic graphic embellishments, and statutory near beer wording. Known variations of the can exist from different production batches, featuring slight differences in text formatting and layout. It remains an appealing collectible illustrating the enduring life of the Ehret trademark under New Jersey canning operations.